The Amazing Race 12, Episode 4: Why Did the Phil Cross the Road?

Previously on The Camels Are On Our Side: Karma laughed in Ron’s face by giving him a hernia. Nine teams went to Burkina Faso and had to milk camels. Some did it without much trouble, but Lorena decided that shrieking was the best method. Azaria & Hendekea came in first for the second time, while Julia’s advice to Lorena & Jason got her and Marianna eliminated (and earned Julia a Reality TV Hall of Shame Moment). Eight teams are left.

Phil, the teams, and a bunch of cute kids are in Bingo. Will TK & Rachel’s calm approach keep them in the front of the back? Will Lorena shut up? I mean, will Jason & Lorena keep it together?

Azaria & Hendekea are leaving at 7:58 a.m. They must follow a path to a village and find the tribal chief to get a clue and a gift. The sound of chickens the editors put in make me think the gift is… a penguin. Azaria interviews that there’s nothing stopping them. I guess that means they’re going to be eliminated this leg. He continues that they won’t be stopped by Hendekea’s physical limitations, which she jokes makes it sound like she has a gimpy leg.

They get their clue and the gift, which turns out to be… a chicken! What are the odds? The clue tells them to take a taxi to Bouda Pelegtanga to search for the next clue. The chicken has to stay with them at all times - or, as the clue says, “No chicken, no check-in.” Hee. Azaria asks his sister what he can do to make her move faster. She promises that she’s going as fast as she can.

TK & Rachel leave as TK interviews that the more pressure there is, the more of a chance of a team screwing up, which is why they try to stay calm. Nathan & Jen leave and Jen says they’ve been in the top three in the first three legs. They’ve been so close that there’s no reason they can’t come in first. Or, you know, jinx themselves and get eliminated. Kynt & Vyxsin (Hot Topic) leave and Kynt tells us not to discriminate against Goths. Got it.

Ron & Christina leave, and Ron interviews that their relationship is improving. Apparently his justification is that they moved from last place to fifth place. He hopes to change more for the better. Christina says she’ll keep being patient.

Nicolas & Donald leave with Nicolas interviewing that he likes having an older partner because Donald brings a lot of years of life experience to the race. Donald says he can’t run quite as fast as the younger racers, but he still has 40-something years on them, so he must have learned something.

TK & Rachel get their chicken pretty easily, but Nathan & Jen’s objects to being put in a bag. TK teases Rachel with the chicken in the cab. They’re so cute. Hendekea tells us that she and Azaria have been to Ethiopia together, and they love being in Africa because the people are so nice. Hot Topic, Nicolas & Donald, and Ron & Christina get their chickens.

Shana & Jennifer leave the Pit Stop. Shana says they’re great friends and both give input and speak their minds. They’re not thrilled about their new teammate for the leg. Shana suggests naming the chicken Phil because they have the same hairdo. Heh.

Hendekea & Azaria arrive at the village and start looking. She has to go to the bathroom, so he has to wait for her. Nathan & Jen and TK & Rachel are close behind and get ahead of the siblings to the next clue, a Detour. The choices are Shake Your Pan and Shake Your Booty. In Pan, teams choose a gold-mining pit and mine an ounce of gold to trade for the clue. In Booty, teams learn a traditional local dance and perform for the local Simon, Paula, and Randy. They must also be creative. If the judges aren’t impressed, teams are banished for ten minutes before getting the clue. Jen & Nathan decide on Booty because Jen danced for the Clippers dance team. TK & Rachel get their clue, as do Azaria and the now-relieved Hendekea.

Lorena & Jason finally leave the Pit Stop. She says she’s trying to stay calm. Jason says the race is about not giving up, and they’re not quitters.

There’s some cab racing between Hot Topic and Nicolas & Donald, the latter of whom get themselves into fourth place. Nicolas says it’s like the cab driver is racing for the million dollars. Lorena & Jason get their chicken and head to the village, hoping not to make any mistakes.

Hot Topic are glad Ron & Christina are still behind them. Jinx! Christina & Ron’s cab passes theirs. Nathan & Jen get to Booty and start learning the dance moves. TK & Rachel and Hendekea & Azaria are there, too, but have to wait to dance. Nathan struggles with understanding what they’re doing, so Jen tries to help him out during their performance. They at least look like they’re having fun. Hendekea & Azaria practice on the sidelines, trying to learn the moves Nathan & Jen are doing. The judges tell Nathan & Jen they didn’t show enough creativity, so they have to wait ten minutes before they can move on.

At the Detour, Nicolas & Donald pick Pan because Donald has done mining. Ron & Christina decide on Booty, since apparently Ron is a “wild dancer.” TK & Rachel get a demonstration at Booty and she decides the dance is too hard, so they switch. Nicolas & Donald get to Pan as Hendekea & Azaria get a round of applause from their audience, and, after some deliberation, an okay from the judges. Their clue tells them to follow another path to the Pelegtanga Market. “Caution: U-Turn ahead.” Interesting. Phil explains that a U-Turn can be used to slow down another team by making them go back and do the Detour task they didn’t do. Teams can only use it once on the race.